 |
The Rifles (RIFLES) is a regiment of the British Army. It consists of five regular and two territorial battalions, plus a number of companies in other TA battalions, making it the second largest regiment in the infantry (the largest being the Royal Regiment of Scotland, third being the Guards Division followed by the Parachute Regiment). Each battalion of the Rifles was formerly an individual battalion of one of the two large regiments of the Light Division (with the exception of the 1st Battalion, which is an amalgamation of two individual regiments).
The Rifles was formed on 1 February 2007 by the amalgamation of the four Light Infantry and Rifle Regiments of the Light Division:
· The Devonshire and Dorset Light Infantry
· The Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Light Infantry